Raiderettes end losing streak at East Union

AFTON — Mount Ayr’s (4-3) volleyball team halted their three match losing streak with a win in three straight sets at East Union (1-6) Tuesday night (25-15, 25-18, 25-15).

“For having sophomores, freshman and one junior on the floor, I thought we did pretty well and fought back in the second and third games,” Eagle head coach Rochelle Means said. “They fought hard against seniors and juniors.”

With the win, the Raiderettes are 11-15 in the series that dates back to 2007 on Bound.

“This win is what we needed right now,” Mount Ayr coach Kristen Graham said. “Last week, we struggled on Thursday (Pleasantville triangular). They had fun and were all positive to each other and worked together. We came out and crushed it in three sets.”

Mount Ayr opened the first set on a 3-0 run, and both teams started hitting which contributed to a narrow 7-6 margin for the Raiderettes. Mount Ayr went on a 5-0 run which gave the Raiderettes momentum to finish on a 13-9 run.

The Eagles tallied five straight before having an attacking error to end the set.

Tegan Streit and Linsie Barnes each had six kills for the Raiderettes. Kacee Klommhaus added four, both Tabby Henle and Kaylie Shields each tallied a trio of kills.

“We have strong leaders in this group and I feel like they come in and put forth the best effort and they make every minute of practice count,” Graham said. “We had 29 kills (East Union had one).”

Mount Ayr led 7-6 early in the second set and an Olivia Huntington ace sealed the set with a 25-19 score.

East Union tied the final set at four and briefly had a lead before watching it evaporate. The Eagles called a timeout while trailing 18-9.

Avery Staver led the Eagles with seven digs.

“She did pretty good on the line for me and blocked,” Means said. “Sometimes things we have to work on require experience.”

For the remainder of the set, both teams were even with both teams scoring seven points in before Mount Ayr won the final set 25-15.

With the win, Mount Ayr spoiled East Union’s homecoming volleyball match.

“Absolutely (it means more),” Graham said. “Especially at an away game. We have our homecoming next week and we go to Clarinda, I hope they can come and crush it next week like they did tonight.”

Mount Ayr statistics

Serving (aces) — Kaylie Shields 14-14 (4), Linsie Barnes 13-16 (4), Tegan Streit 13-15 (2), Olivia Huntington 9-10 (1), Hayden Ruggles 8-9 (1), Tabby Henle 9-11 Team: 66-75 (12)

Attacks (kills) — Streit 18-25 (6), Barnes 10-13 (6), Klommhaus 10-13 (4), Henle 9-10 (3), Shields 6-8 (3), Ruggles 10-11 (3), Larsen 5-8 (3), Huntington 4-4 (1) Team: 72-92 (30)

Blocks — Klommhaus 1-2, Larsen 0-2

Assists — Shields 15, Ruggles 10

Digs — Huntington 9, Ruggles 9, Henle 7, Shields 5, Streit 5.

East Union

Serving (aces) — Avery Staver 12-12 (2), Sidney Staver 10-10 (1), Brooklyn Mitchell 8-12 (1), Kinzey Ripperger 7-7, Natalee Millslagle 6-7, Haley Willett 4-4 Team: 47-52 (4)

Attacks (kills) — Mitchell 9-13 (1), Ripperger 5-6, Willett 2-4, Woollums, 2-4 Team: 15-30 (1)

Blocks — Willett 8-1, Woollums 1-3, A. Staver 3-0, Ripperger 2-1, Mitchell 1-1, S. Staver 1.

Assists — S. Staver 1.

Digs — A. Staver 7, Ripperger 5, Millslagle 2, Willett 2, S. Staver 1, Mitchell 1.